Electrophoretic display device and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electrophoretic display device includes a display element including a pair of first and second substrates which are opposed to each other, and a microcapsule enclosing a display material changed in optical characteristics in response to an electric impulse, the microcapsule being sandwiched between the first and second substrates; and a protective film sealing the display element. In the display device, a first electrode is provided on the surface of the first substrate which faces the second substrate, a second electrode is provided on the surface of the second substrate which faces the first substrate, and a spacer is provided in the space between the periphery of the facing surface of the first substrate and the first electrode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional patent application of U.S. Ser. No.11/616,420 filed Dec. 27, 2006, claiming priority to Japanese PatentApplication Nos. 2005-377772 filed Dec. 28, 2005 and 2006-298805 filedNov. 2, 2006, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrophoretic display device andan electronic apparatus.

2. Related Art

There have been known electrophoretic display devices each including anelectrophoretic dispersion liquid containing a liquid phase dispersionmedium and electrophoretic particles and using the phenomenon that whenan electric field is applied, the dispersion state of theelectrophoretic particles is changed to change the opticalcharacteristics of the electrophoretic dispersion liquid (refer to, forexample, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.6-203954). Such electrophoretic display devices may be decreased in costand thickness due to no need for backlight. Furthermore, theelectrophoretic display devices have a wide angle of view, highcontrast, and display memory, and thus the electrophoretic displaydevice attract attention as next-generation display devices.

A known example of such electrophoretic display devices includes anelectrophoretic dispersion liquid enclosed in microcapsules which areheld between a transparent substrate having a transparent electrode, forexample, serving as a common electrode and a substrate having pixelelectrodes. The enclosure of the electrophoretic dispersion liquid inmicrocapsules has the advantage that it may be possible to prevent flowout of the dispersion liquid in a process for manufacturing a displaydevice and to decrease sedimentation and aggregation of electrophoreticparticles.

On the other hand, a microcapsule-type electrophoretic device isdisadvantageous in that when moisture or the like enters a microcapsuledisplay layer from the outside, the electric conductivity of the displaylayer is increased to degrade the display function.

Therefore, in order to improve the moisture resistance of anelectrophoretic display device, there has been widely used a method inwhich a waterproof film (waterproof sheet) is attached to the outerperiphery of a body of an electrophoretic display device, for preventingthe moisture entrance into a display layer of the electrophoreticdisplay device.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.6-203954 discloses a method of bonding a back protecting material, by avacuum lamination method, to an electroluminescence layer in which atransparent electrode, a luminescent layer, a dielectric layer, and aback electrode are laminated in that order on a light transmittingsubstrate.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-236538discloses a method of thermally pressure-bonding a hot melt film havinga buffer adhesive layer, with a roll laminator or the like, to the uppersurface (light receiving surface) of a laminated member such as a solarcell sheet and at least one of the surfaces of a resin base materialhaving transparency and heat resistance.

In bonding a waterproof film to a body of an electrophoretic displaydevice by the vacuum laminator or roll laminator method, constanttemperature and pressure are applied.

When a display electrode is formed on a substrate, a certain space isprovided between the display electrode and the peripheral edge of thesubstrate, for securing some degree of margin. Since the displayelectrode is not formed in the space, a step is formed by the displayelectrode.

When a waterproof film is attached to the periphery of such anelectrophoretic display device body by the vacuum laminator method,temperature and pressure are applied to the electrophoretic displaydevice body, and thus the substrate is deformed by bending due to thestep formed in the space at the periphery of the substrate. Thedeformation of the substrate causes high stress to be applied to theperipheral portion of the substrate as compared with the other regions.Therefore, the microcapsules disposed in the periphery of the substrateare crushed to bring about the problem of causing a display defect inthe periphery of a display region (refer to FIG. 9).

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that the inventionprovides an electrophoretic display device capable of avoiding crush ofmicrocapsules in bonding a waterproof film, thereby preventing a displaydefect, and also provides an electronic apparatus.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an electrophoreticdisplay device includes a display element including a pair of first andsecond substrates which are opposed to each other, and microcapsulesenclosing a display material changed in optical characteristics inresponse to an electric impulse, the microcapsules being sandwichedbetween the first and second substrates, and a protective film sealingthe display device. In the display device, a first electrode is providedon the surface of the first substrate which faces the second substrate,a second electrode is provided on the surface of the second substratewhich faces the first substrate, and a spacer is provided in the spacebetween the periphery of the facing surface of the first substrate andthe first electrode.

Since the space is provided in the periphery of the first electrode, thestep formed by the first electrode the substrate surface on which thefirst electrode is not provided is relieved by the spacer. Accordingly,the space between the microcapsules disposed in the periphery betweenthe pair of substrates and the first substrate (or the second substrate)is filled with the spacer. Therefore, in sealing the display elementwith the protective film, the peripheral region of the first substrate(or the second substrate) is supported by the spacer and themicrocapsules, thereby decreasing the concentration of stress in theperipheral region of the substrate when the protective film iscompressed (drawing). Therefore, the substrate peripheral region is notdeformed, and crush of the microcapsules disposed in the peripheralregion between the first and second substrates can be prevented, therebypreventing a display defect in the periphery of a display region.

It is preferable that the thickness of the spacer is in the range of 50%to 150% of the thickness of the first electrode.

When the thickness of the spacer is over 150% of the thickness of thefirst electrode, the peripheral portion of the first substrate is higherthan the central portion thereof, and thus the cell gap between the pairof substrates become nonuniform. On the other hand, when the thicknessis less than 50%, the step formed by the first electrode and thesubstrate surface is increased, thereby increasing the deformation ofthe substrate periphery and concentrating stress in the substrateperiphery.

It is also referable that the width of the spacer measured in the radialdirection of the periphery is 2 times or more as large as the diameterof the microcapsules. When the width of the spacer is less than 2 timesas large as the diameter of the microcapsules, if a mother sheet onwhich the microcapsules have been applied is cut into a required size ata position corresponding to a portion of the microcapsules, some of themicrocapsules are crushed, and thus a segment electrode portion does notfunction to protect the microcapsules. In the embodiment of theinvention, even when the microcapsules on a dummy pattern are crushed,the microcapsules on the segment electrodes for display can be preventedfrom being crushed.

It is further preferable that the width of the spacer is 3 mm or less.This is because when the width of the spacer exceeds 3 mm, the width ofa non-display region is limited to 5 mm or less (requirement of productside), and the spacer excessively extends in a seal area having a sealwidth of 1.5 to 2.0 mm, thereby causing reliability defect. In theembodiment of the invention, it may be possible to decrease the total ofthe seal width as the width of the non-display region and the spacerwidth and thus to comply with an application in which the display deviceis incorporated into a product strongly required to have a good-lookingsmall size.

It is further preferable that the first electrode is a pixel electrode,the second electrode is a common electrode, the pixel electrode includesa plurality of segment electrodes arranged in a predetermined pattern,and the spacer is provided in the periphery of the outer segmentelectrodes among the plurality of segment electrodes.

The pixel electrode is a so-called segment type including a plurality ofsegment electrodes arranged in a predetermined pattern.

In this case, in a segment-type pixel electrode, the spacer is providedalong the periphery of the outer segment electrodes, and thus the stepformed by the pixel electrode and the substrate surface is filled withthe spacer. Therefore, it may be possible to decrease concentration ofstress in the peripheral edges of the substrates during compression(drawing) of the protective film and to resolve a display defect in theperiphery of the display region.

It is further preferable that the spacer is composed of the samematerial as that of the pixel electrode.

In this case, the space is composed of the same material as that of thepixel electrode, and thus the material cost is decreased. In addition,the space may be formed in the same process as that for the pixelelectrode, and thus a process for forming the space need not be added.

It is further preferable that the first substrate has a projectingportion projecting from the outer shape of the second substrate,terminals are provided in the projecting portion, an insulating film isprovided on the projecting portion except on at least the terminals, andthe spacer is composed of the same material as that of the insulatingfilm.

The insulating film is used as a mask for preventing a bonding memberused for connecting the terminal portion of the projecting portion to acircuit board from being disposed on an unnecessary portion (forexample, between terminals).

In this case, the insulating film provided on the projecting portion iscomposed of the same material as that of the spacer, thereby decreasingthe material cost. In addition, the spacer may be formed in the sameprocess as that for the insulating film, and thus a process for formingthe spacer need not be added.

It is further preferable that a reinforcing member is provided on thesurface of at least one of the first and second substrates, which isopposite to the facing surface, so that the reinforcing member planarlyoverlaps at least a portion of the spacer on the facing surface of thefirst substrate.

In this case, the reinforcing member is provided on the surface oppositeto the facing surfaces of the first and second substrates so that thereinforcing member overlaps the spacer provided on the facing surfaceside. Therefore, the thickness of the substrate peripheral portion isincreased, thereby increasing rigidity. It may be possible to decreasethe concentration of stress in the substrate periphery in compression ofthe protective film and thus prevent the deformation of the substrateperiphery.

It is further preferable that the reinforcing member includes at leastone of a conductive member composed of the same material as that of thepixel electrode provided on the facing surface side of the firstsubstrate and a protective member composed of the same material as thatof the insulating film.

In this case, the reinforcing member is composed of the same material asthat of the pixel electrode provided on the facing surface side of thefirst substrate or the insulating film, thereby decreasing the materialcost.

The reinforcing member may be formed in a single layer of a conductivemember or an insulating film or a laminated structure including twolayers of a conductive member and an insulating film. When thereinforcing member is formed in a laminated structure, it is preferablethat the protective member is formed to cover the conductive member. Thereinforcing member having a two-layer structure including the conductivemember and the protective member improves the rigidity of the substratesas compared with a single layer.

In another embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus includesthe above-described electrophoretic display device.

Since the electronic apparatus includes the electrophoretic displaydevice causing no display defect, the electronic apparatus has highreliability and high quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of anelectrophoretic display device according to a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the electrophoretic display device takenalong line IIA-IIA in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the electrophoretic display device takenalong line IIB-IIB in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are sectional views showing a process for manufacturingan electrophoretic display device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the schematic configuration of anelectrophoretic display device according to a second embodiment of theinvention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views showing the schematic configurationof an electrophoretic display device according to a third embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of awristwatch.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of acellular phone.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of anelectronic paper.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the schematic configuration of ageneral electrophoretic display device.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the dimensional relationship of theperiphery of an electrophoretic display device.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

The present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 shows an electrophoretic display device according to anembodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes anelectrophoretic display device.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the electrophoretic display device 1taken along line IIA-IIA in FIG. 1. FIG. 2B is a sectional view of theelectrophoretic display device 1 taken along line IIB-IIB in FIG. 1. Ineach of the drawings used for description below, the scales of layersand members are different for showing the layers and members inrespective recognizable sizes. In this embodiment, the opposing surfacesof first and second substrates 3 and 5 are referred to as “the innersurfaces”, and the surfaces opposite to the inner surfaces are referredto as “the outer surfaces”.

(Electrophoretic Display Device)

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the electrophoretic display device 1includes a display element 20 and waterproof sheets 14 (protective film)covering the outside of the display element 20.

The display element 20 includes the first substrate 3 having a pluralityof pixel electrodes (first electrodes) 2 and the second substrate 5having a common electrode (second electrode) 4, both substrates beingopposed to each other, and microcapsules 6 each enclosing a displaymaterial changed in optical characteristics in response to an electricimpulse, the microcapsules 6 being held between the substrates 3 and 5.

In particular, when the electrophoretic display device 1 is used for anIC card or an electronic paper which is required to be flexible, arectangular film- or sheet-shaped resin substrate is used as each of thefirst and second substrates 3 and 5. On the other hand, when theelectrophoretic display device is used for a general panel not requiredto be flexible, a glass substrate, a hard resin substrate, or asemiconductor substrate composed of silicon is used.

In this embodiment, the second substrate side corresponds to a displayside on which an image is visible by an observer. Therefore, atransparent material having high light transmissivity is used as thesecond substrate 5 on the observer side of the electrophoretic displaydevice 1. Preferred examples of a material of such a resin substrateinclude polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyether sulfone (PES),polyimide (PI), and polyethylene (PE). The thickness of the secondsubstrate 5 is preferably, for example, 100 μm or more. In this case, itmay be possible to secure the rigidity of the second substrate 5 andprevent crush of the microcapsules 6 in bonding the waterproof sheets14.

On the other hand, the first substrate 3 which does not serve as adisplay surface and which is opposed to the second substrate 5 need notbe transparent (high transmissivity). Therefore, besides the materialsused for the second substrate 5, polyesters such as polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate(PC), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and acrylic or polyacrylate resinsmay be used.

In this embodiment, the outside dimensions of the first substrate 3 arelarger than those of the second substrate 5. When the first substrate 3and the second substrate 5 are disposed so that the three sides (theupper, lower, and right sides in FIG. 1) of one of the substrates arealigned with the respective three sides of the other, the remaining sideof the first substrate 3 projects from the remaining side of the secondsubstrate 5 (the left side in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the portionof the first substrate 3 which projects from the second substrate 5 isreferred to as a “projecting portion 3 a”.

As shown in FIG. 1, terminals 8 on which a flexible substrate (notshown) is mounted, and lead wiring (not shown) extending from the pixelelectrodes 2 and a conductive portion 7 of the first substrate 3 to therespective terminals 8 are formed on the projecting portion 3 a of thefirst substrate 3.

The pixel electrodes 2 and the dummy electrode 16 formed in the displayregion 9 of the first substrate 3 will be descried in detail below.

A plurality of pixel electrodes 2 designed to a predetermined shape isformed in the display region 9 of the first substrate 3. In thisembodiment, the pixel electrodes 2 include seven segment electrodes 2 aand 2 b each of which has an elongated hexagonal shape and which arearranged in an 8-like form (so-called seven segments). The segmentelectrodes 2 a are arranged so that the long side direction is parallelto the short side direction of the first substrate 3. The segmentelectrodes 2 b are arranged so that the long side direction is parallelto the long side direction of the first substrate 3.

In this embodiment, an assembly of the seven segment electrodes 2 a and2 b is referred to as a “segment electrode group 2 c”. Therefore, onesegment electrode group 2 c enables the display of a number from 0 to 9.In this embodiment, three segment electrode groups 2 c are arranged fordisplaying a three-digit number. However, the number of segmentelectrode groups 2 c is not limited to three.

In addition, a dummy electrode 16 (spacer) is formed in the space Sbetween the outer segment electrodes 2 a′ and 2 b′ in the three segmentelectrode groups 2 c and the three sides (outer edge) of the firstsubstrate 3. The dummy electrode 16 has a predetermined thickness andfunctions as a spacer filling in the step formed by the segmentelectrodes 2 a and 2 b and the first substrate 3. The dummy electrode 16is formed to surround the three segment electrode groups 2 c. In thiscase, the dummy electrode 16 is provided with a space of, for example,50 μm from the segment electrodes 2 a′ to secure insulation between thedummy electrode 16 and the segment electrodes 2 a′. Furthermore, thedummy electrode 16 is formed to extend to a position overlapping each ofthe sides (peripheral edge) of the first substrate 3 to form noclearance (space).

On the projecting portion side of the first substrate 3, the dummyelectrode 16 is formed in a display region 9 of the first substrate 3inside the left side of the second substrate 5 opposed to the firstsubstrate 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the dummy electrode 16 is formed with aspace from the conductive portion 7 for vertical conduction between thefirst and second substrates 3 and 5. Therefore, the dummy electrode 16is formed with a space from the segment electrodes 2 a and 2 b and theconductive portion 7 to assume a state where a voltage is released.

In addition, the dummy electrode 16 is formed using the same material inthe same process as that for the segment electrodes 2 a and 2 b formedon the inner surface of the first substrate 3. The dummy electrode 16includes a copper foil pattern or a conductive material such as aluminum(Al) or the like. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the thickness D1 ofthe dummy electrode 16 is preferably 30% to 180% and more preferably 50%to 150% of the thickness D2 of the segment electrodes 2 a and 2 b. Thisis because when the thickness D1 of the dummy electrode 16 isexcessively large, the ends of the substrate is higher than the centralportion thereof, thereby providing a nonuniform cell gap between thesubstrates 3 and 5. On the other hand, when the thickness D1 of thedummy electrode 16 is excessively small, the step formed by the segmentelectrodes 2 a and 2 b and the substrate surface is increased, therebyfailing to resolve the concentration of stress on the ends of thesubstrate.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the dimensional relationship of theperiphery of an electrophoretic display device. As shown in FIG. 10, thedummy electrode (spacer) 16 (the same effect as that of a dummy pattern22 shown in FIG. 4) is preferably provided so that the effective widthW1 measured in the radial direction (the horizontal direction of thedrawing) of the periphery 19, i.e., an effective width W1 of an overlapbetween the microcapsules 16 and the dummy electrode 16 in a plan view,is 2 times or more as large as the diameter d (about 25 to 30 μm) of themicrocapsules 6. The effective width W1 of the dummy electrode 16 isdescribed below from the viewpoint that many sheets are simultaneouslyproduced from a mother sheet (not shown). In the vicinity of a cutportion (not shown) of each of the sheets cut from the mother sheet, anoverlap between the microcapsules 6 and the dummy electrode 16 also hasthe effective width W1. On the other hand, when the effective width W1of the dummy electrode 16 is less than 2 times as large as the diameterd of the microcapsules 6, if the mother sheet to which the microcapsules6 have been applied is cut into a predetermined size at a cuttingposition corresponding to a portion of the microcapsules 6, some of themicrocapsules 6 are crushed, and thus the microcapsule protectingfunction of the segment electrode groups 2 c (FIG. 1) is not exhibited.Namely, it may be necessary that at least one microcapsule 6 is keptnormal and uncrushed within the range of the effective width W1 of thedummy electrode 16. Therefore, assuming that some of the microcapsules 6are crushed in processing the sheet, it may be necessary to secure thatthe effective width W1 of the dummy electrode 16 is 2 times or more aslarge as the diameter d of the microcapsules 6.

In this case, if the first microcapsules 6 disposed on the dummyelectrode 16 are crushed, the second microcapsules 6 disposed on thesegment electrode groups 2 c for display are kept uncrushed.

Therefore, it may be possible to resolve a defect such as a displaydefect caused by crush of the microcapsules 6 due to a change in the gapG between the first and second substrates 3 and 5 in the periphery 19.

Furthermore, the maximum width W2 of the dummy electrode 16 ispreferably 3 mm or less. When the maximum width W2 of the dummyelectrode 16 exceeds 3 mm, requirements for product project are notsatisfied. In other words, the width W4 of an unsightly frame-shapednon-display region is limited to 5 mm or less from the viewpoint of avolume ratio and appearance, and thus if the dummy electrode 16excessively projects into the seal area with a seal width W3 limited to1.5 to 2.0 mm, reliability is significantly degraded. In this case, thetotal of the maximum width W2 of the dummy electrode 16 and the sealwidth W3 included in the width W4 of the non-display region ispreferably decreased so that the display device is suitably used forincorporation into a product such as a watch or the like, which has theproperty of being required to have a good-looking small size.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the display region 9 of the first substrate 3, aregion in which the segment electrodes 2 a and 2 b are not formed is abackground area 15 not contributing to display. The background area 15includes an outer background area positioned outside the segmentelectrodes 2 a′ and 2 b′, an inner background area positioned in aregion surrounded by the four segment electrodes 2 a and 2 b, and abackground area positioned between the segment electrodes 2 a and 2 b.

Furthermore, the microcapsules 6 are arranged on the dummy electrode 16,but the region on the dummy electrode 16 serves as a portion of thebackground area not contributing to display because the dummy electrode16 does not function as an electrode.

On the other hand, the common electrode 4 is formed over the entiresurface of the second substrate 5 by vapor deposition or the like.

Examples of a material used for the common electrode 4 includeconductive oxides such as ITO (indium tin oxide), electronic conductivepolymers such as polyaniline, ionic conductive polymers each including amatrix resin such as polyvinyl alcohol resin or polycarbonate resin inwhich an ionic substance such as NaCl, LiClO₄, or KCl is dispersed.

The microcapsules 6 are disposed between the first and second substrates3 and 5, particularly on the pixel electrodes 2. As described above, thedisplay material is enclosed in the microcapsules 6, and themicrocapsules 6 are formed with substantially the same diameter. In thisembodiment, the diameter is about 30 μm. The enclosed display materialis changed in optical characteristics in response to an electric impulseand, specifically, the display material is mainly composed ofelectrophoretic particles or a liquid crystal.

As the material mainly composed of electrophoretic particles, anelectrophoretic dispersion liquid containing electrophoretic particlesand a liquid phase dispersion medium for dispersing the particles isused.

Examples of the liquid phase dispersion medium include water; alcoholsolvents such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, octanol, andmethyl cellosolve; esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate;ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and methyl isobutylketone; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane, and octane;alycyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane;aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and long-chainalkyl group-containing benzenes, e.g., hexyl benzene, heptylbenzene,octylbenzene, nonylbenzene, decylbenzene, undecylbenzene,dodecylbenzene, tridecylbenzene, and tetradecylbenzene; halogenatedhydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, chloroform, carbontetrachloride, and 1,2-dichloroethane; carboxylates, and other variousoils. These compounds are used alone or as a mixture, and a surfactantor the like may be added thereto.

The electrophoretic particles are organic or inorganic particles(polymer or colloid) having the property of being electrophoreticallymoved by a potential difference in the liquid phase dispersion medium.

Examples of the electrophoretic particles include black pigments such asaniline black, carbon black, and titanium black; white pigments such astitanium dioxide, zinc white, and antimony trioxide; azo pigments suchas monoazo, disazo, and polyazo pigments; yellow pigments such asisoindolinone, chrome yellow, and yellow iron oxide, cadmium yellow,titanium yellow, and antimony yellow; red pigments such as quinacridonred and chrome vermilion; blue pigments such as phthalocyanine blue,indanthrene blue, anthraquinone dyes, iron blue, ultramarine blue, andcobalt blue; and green pigments such as phthalocyanine green. Thesepigments may be used alone or combination of two or more.

Furthermore, if required, a charge control agent such as an electrolyte,a surfactant, a metal soap, a resin, rubber, oil, varnish, or acompound; a dispersant such as a titanium coupling agent, an aluminumcoupling agent, or a silane coupling agent; a lubricant, and astabilizer may be added to the pigment.

As a material for forming the wall films of the microcapsules 6, acomposite film of rubber Arabic and gelatin, or a compound such asurethane resin or urea resin may be used.

In the electrophoretic display device 1 according to this embodiment,two types of electrophoretic particles are enclosed in the microcapsules6, one of the types being negatively charged, and the other beingpositively charged. As the two types of electrophoretic particles, forexample, a white pigment, e.g., titanium dioxide, and a black pigment,e.g., carbon black, are used. By using the two types of electrophoreticparticles, i.e., white and black pigments, for example, a numeral may bedisplayed using the black electrophoretic particles.

Display may be performed by migration of only one type ofelectrophoretic particles toward the common electrode side or the pixelelectrode side.

The microcapsules 6 are fixed to the second substrate, particularly onthe common electrode 4, with a binder 10. As the binder 10, a materialhaving high affinity for the wall films of the microcapsules 6,excellent adhesion to the common electrode 4, and insulation may beused. Examples of such a material include thermoplastic resins such aspolyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetatecopolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, polypropylene, ABSresin, methyl methacrylate resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinylchloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloridecopolymers, vinyl chloride-acrylate copolymers, vinylchloride-methacrylic acid copolymers, vinyl chloride-acrylonitrilecopolymers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol-vinyl chloride copolymers,propylene-vinyl chloride copolymers, vinylidene chloride resin, vinylacetate resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl formal, and cellulose resin;polymers such as polyamide resin, polyacetal, polycarbonate,polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenyleneoxide, polysulfone, polyamidemide, polyaminobismaleimide, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene sulfone, polyallylate, grafted polyphenyleneether, polyether ethyl ketone, and polyether imide; fluorocarbon resinsuch as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyfluoroethylene propylene,tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkoxyethylene copolymers,ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymers, polyvinylidene fluoride,polytrifluoroethylene chloride, and fluororubber; silicone resin such assilicone resin and silicone rubber; other polymers such as methacrylicacid-styrene copolymers, polypropylene, and methylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymers.

On the other hand, the microcapsules 6 are fixed to the first substrate3, particularly on the pixel electrodes 2, with a double-faced adhesivesheet 11. The double-faced adhesive sheet 11 is a rubber or acrylicadhesive sheet having a thickness of about 25 μm and is fixed to thepixel electrodes 2 of the first substrate 3 and to the microcapsules 6,thereby fixing the microcapsules 6 on the first substrate 3.

Therefore, the microcapsules 6 are held between the first substrate 3and the second substrate 5 to form the display region 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the conductive portion 7 is formed in the displayregion 9 of the first substrate 3. As shown in FIG. 1, a conductivematerial 17 is formed on the conductive portion 7 and put into electriccontact with the common electrode 4 of the second substrate 5. As aresult, in this embodiment, the conductive portion 7 and the conductivematerial 17 constitute a vertical conduction member 12 for verticalconduction between the first and second substrates 3 and 5.

The conductive portion 7 includes a copper foil pattern formed by, forexample, a semi-additive method. Therefore, the conductive portion 7 maybe formed using the same material in the same process as that for thesegment electrodes 2 a and 2 b and the dummy electrode 16.

The conductive material 17 includes conductive paste prepared by mixingconductive particles such as metal particles, e.g., silver or nickelparticles formed by fracture, carbon particles, particles each includinga resin core coated with nickel and further coated with gold, in aresin, for example, an epoxy resin, or a conductive sheet formed usingthe conductive paste. In particular, as the resin, rubber or acrylicresin which has adhesiveness at room temperature is preferably used.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a pair of waterproof sheets 14 is laminatedon the outside of the display element 20 so as to sandwich the displayelement 20. Therefore, the whole of the display element 20 is coveredwith the pair of waterproof sheets 14. Furthermore, attachment portions14 c are provided in the peripheries of the pair of waterproof sheets14, the attachment portions 14 c being formed to be larger than theouter sizes of the first and second substrates 3 and 5. The attachmentportions 14 c of the waterproof sheets 14 are bonded together through anadhesive 18 in the side ends of the display element 20.

Each of the waterproof sheets 14 has a two-layer structure including aresin layer 14 a composed of a polymer material and a barrier layer 14 bcomposed of an inorganic material. In sealing the pair of substrateswith the waterproof sheets 14, the barrier layer 14 b of each waterproofsheet 14 is disposed nearer to the substrate side (inside) than theresin layer 14 a. When the barrier layers 14 b are disposed outside,moisture may enter the inside through the defects produced in thebarrier layers 14 b. On the other hand, when the barrier layers 14 b ofthe waterproof sheets 14 are disposed nearer to the substrate side thanthe resin layers 14 a, if defects occurs in the barrier layers 14 b, theentrance of moisture from the outside may be cut off by the outer resinlayers 14 a. Furthermore, in order to increase waterproofness, the resinlayer 14 a and the barrier layer 14 b may be alternately laminated toform a multilayer waterproof sheet, thereby further increasing theeffect of cutting off moisture entrance from the outside.

As a material for the barrier layers 14 b, an inorganic material such assilicon oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, or titanium oxide, or ametal foil such as an aluminum foil, a copper foil, or a Koval foil ispreferably used.

As a material for the resin layers 14 a, a polyester such aspolyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP),polyether sulfone (PES), or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a resin suchas polycarbonate (PC), a metal foil such as an aluminum foil, a copperfoil, a Koval foil, or a laminate of a metal thin film and a resin filmis preferably used.

The adhesive 18 is applied to the side ends of the display element 20 sothat the space between the first and second substrates 3 and 5 is sealedwith the adhesive 18. As a material for the adhesive 18, a resinadhesive such as an epoxy resin, a silicone resin, or an acrylic resin,or such a resin adhesive containing an inorganic filler such as siliconnitride or the like is preferably used.

In this embodiment, the dummy electrode 16 is formed along the peripheryof the segment electrode groups 2 c, and thus the step formed by thesegment electrodes 2 and the substrate surface on which the segmentelectrodes are not provided is relieved by the dummy electrode 16.Therefore, the space between the second substrate 5 and themicrocapsules 6 disposed in the periphery between the pair of substrates3 and 5 is filled. Thus, when the display element 20 is sealed with thewaterproof sheets 14, the periphery of the second substrate 5 issupported by the segment electrodes 2 and the microcapsules 6, therebydecreasing the stress concentration in the substrate periphery duringcompression (drawing) of the waterproof sheets 14. As a result, it maybe possible to prevent the deformation of the peripheries of the firstand second substrates 3 and 5, prevent crush of the microcapsules 6disposed between in the periphery between the first and secondsubstrates 3 and 5, and resolve a display defect in the periphery of thedisplay region.

In this embodiment, the dummy electrode 16 is formed using the samematerial as that of the segment electrodes 2, thereby decreasing thematerial cost. Furthermore, the dummy electrode 16 may be formed in thesame process as that for the segment electrodes 2, and thus a processfor forming the dummy electrode 6 (spacer) need not be added.

(Method for Manufacturing Electrophoretic Display Device)

Next the method for manufacturing the electrophoretic display deviceaccording to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.3A to 3D. FIGS. 3A to 3D are sectional views showing the process formanufacturing the electrophoretic display device 1.

First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first substrate 3 composed ofelastically deformable polyimide and having a thickness of about 25 μmis prepared, and the pixel electrodes 2 (segment electrodes) and thedummy electrode 16 are simultaneously formed in the display region 9 ofthe first substrate 3 by a known method such as a semi-additive method.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3B, the second substrate 5 composed ofpolyethylene terephthalate (PET) and having a thickness of 200 μm isprepared. Then, a transparent electrode (the common electrode 4)composed of ITO is formed to a thickness of several hundreds Å over theentire surface of one (inner side) of the surfaces of the secondsubstrate 5.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, many microcapsules 6 are arranged on thesurface of the common electrode 4 of the second substrate 5 using thebinder 10. Each of the microcapsules 6 contains black and whiteparticles which are positively and negatively charged, respectively,together with a solvent, the diameter of the microcapsules 6 being 30 to50 μm. Then, a double-faced adhesive sheet (not shown) is attached tothe surfaces of the microcapsules on the side opposite to the sidebonded to the second substrate 5.

Next, the second substrate 5 to which the double-faced adhesive sheethas been attached is opposed to the first substrate 3. As shown in FIG.3C, the double-faced adhesive sheet of the second substrate 5 is pressedand bonded to the side of the first substrate 3 on which the pixelelectrodes 2 have been formed to fix the pair of substrates. As aresult, the display element 20 is formed, in which the microcapsules areheld between the first and second substrates 3 and 5. The substrates arebasically fixed by adhesion of double-faced adhesive sheet at roomtemperature without heating. If required, heating may be performed so asnot to adversely affect the microcapsules 6.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3D, an adhesive is injected, from the peripheralside, into the side end of the display element 20, including the spacebetween the first and second substrates 3 and 5, using a disperser orthe like. As a result, the adhesive is disposed to surround the outsideof the display region 9. Then, the adhesive is cured to form theadhesive layer 13 and to obtain the electrophoretic display device 1. Asthe adhesive, an ultraviolet curable type which is cured without heatingis used. However, like in adhesion of the double-faced adhesive sheet,an adhesive which is cured by heating within a range causing no adverseeffect on the microcapsules 6 may be used.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the first embodiment, the dummy electrode 16 composed of the samematerial as that of the pixel electrodes is formed as the spacer forfilling the step. However, the second embodiment is different from thefirst embodiment in that a solder resist is used as a spacer forprotecting lead wiring or the like. The other basic components of anelectrophoretic display device are the same as in the first embodiment.The common components are denoted by the same reference numerals, andthe detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the schematic configuration of anelectrophoretic display device in which a dummy pattern 22 is formed. Asshown in FIG. 4, the terminals 8 are formed in the projecting portion 3a of the first substrate 3, for mounting FPC. In addition, a solderresist (not shown) is disposed in the periphery of the terminals 8, forpreventing the adhesion of an adhesive material to an unnecessaryportion during mounting of a FPC substrate.

Furthermore, lead wiring (not shown) is formed on the projecting portion3 a, for connecting the terminals 8 and the electrodes 2 and 4 of thedisplay region 9. The solder resist 32 is disposed on the lead wiring,for protecting the lead wiring. As a material for the solder resist 32,for example, an epoxy, phenolic, or urethane material can be used.However, an epoxy material is preferably used from the viewpoint ofstrength.

In this embodiment, the dummy pattern 22 (spacer) is formed in the spaceS between each side (peripheral edge) of the first substrate 3 and theouter segment electrodes 2 a′ and 2 b′ in the three segment electrodegroups 2 c. The dummy pattern 22 includes the solder resist 32 disposedin the periphery of the projecting portion 3 a and on the lead wiring.Therefore, the dummy pattern 22 is formed in the same process as thatfor disposing the solder resist 32 in the periphery of the terminals 8and on the lead wiring in the projecting portion 3 a. In this case, thesolder resist 32 is composed of an insulating material, and thus thesolder resist 32 may be in contact with the segment electrodes 2 formedin the display region 9.

In this embodiment, the dummy pattern 22 may be formed using the samematerial as that for the solder resist 32 provided in the projectingportion 3 a, thereby decreasing the material cost. Furthermore, thedummy pattern 22 may be formed in the same process as that for thesolder resist 32, and thus another process for forming the dummy pattern22 need not be added.

Although, in this embodiment, the dummy pattern 22 is formed using thesame material as that for the solder resist 32 disposed in theprojecting portion 3 a, a material different from the above-describedmaterial to be disposed on the projecting portion 3 a may be used forforming the dummy pattern 22. Alternatively, an insulating materialdifferent from the material disposed on the projecting portion 3 a maybe used for forming the dummy pattern 22.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to thedrawings.

The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that acopper pattern 24 and a resist film 26 are formed on the outer surfaceof at least one of first and second substrates 3 and 5. The other basiccomponents of an electrophoretic display device are the same as in thefirst embodiment. The common components are denoted by the samereference numerals, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views showing the schematic configurationof an electrophoretic display device 1 in which a reinforcing member 28is formed.

The reinforcing member 28 is formed on the outer surface of the firstsubstrate 3, for improving rigidity of the first substrate 3. As shownin FIGS. 5A and 5B, the reinforcing member 28 is formed so as topartially planarly overlap the dummy electrode 16 (dummy pattern 22)formed on the inner surface of the first substrate 3. In thisembodiment, like the dummy electrode 16, the reinforcing member 28 maybe formed over the whole periphery at the corresponding position of theouter surface of the first substrate 3 or formed in a portion of theperiphery at the position of the first substrate 3.

The reinforcing member 28 includes a laminate of a copper pattern 24(conductive member) composed of a conductive material such as copper anda resist film 26 (insulating film) covering the copper pattern 24. Thecopper pattern 24 is formed using the same material as that for thesegment electrodes 2 formed on the first substrate 3. The width of thecopper pattern 24 is preferably about 0.5 mm or more, and the thicknessof the copper pattern 24 is preferably about 18 μm or more. The resistfilm 26 is formed using the same material as that for the solder resist32 for protecting the lead wiring formed on the first substrate 3. Thewidth of the resist film 26 is preferably about 0.5 mm or more, and thethickness of the resist film 26 is preferably about 15 μm or more.

In this embodiment, the material of the reinforcing member 28 is thesame as that for the segment electrodes 2 a and 2 b and the solderresist 32 provided on the facing surface of the first substrate 3,thereby decreasing the material cost. Furthermore, the reinforcingmember 28 has a two-layer structure including the copper pattern 24 andthe resist film 26, thereby further improving the rigidity of thesubstrate.

Therefore, it may be possible to decrease stress concentration in thesubstrate periphery during compression (drawing) of the waterproofsheets 14, prevent crush of the microcapsules 6 disposed in theperiphery between the first and second substrates 3 and 5, and resolve adisplay defect in the periphery of the display region 9.

Even when the reinforcing member 28 includes a single layer of thecopper pattern 24 or the resist film 26, the substrate rigidity isimproved.

Although, in this embodiment, the copper pattern 24 and the resist film26 are formed only on the outer surface of the first substrate 3, thecopper pattern 24 and the resist film 26 may be formed only on the outersurface of the second substrate 5. Alternatively, the copper pattern 24may be formed on both substrates 3 and 5.

When the electrophoretic display device 1 is mounted on an electronicapparatus body, the copper pattern 24 may be allowed to function aswiring for electrically connecting the electrophoretic display device 1and the electronic apparatus body.

Electronic Apparatus

Next, an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of theinvention will be described. An electronic apparatus according to anembodiment of the invention includes the above-described display device.

Examples of an electronic apparatus including the display device will bedescribed below.

<Wristwatch>

Description will be first made of an example in which theelectrophoretic display device is applied to a display portion of awristwatch. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the schematicconfiguration of a wristwatch 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the wristwatch 50includes a display portion 56 for displaying times, a watchcase 52provided as a frame of the display portion 56, and a watchband 54attached to the watchcase 52. In the wristwatch 50, the display portion56 is curved so as to be wound on the arm of the user of the wristwatch50.

<Cellular Phone>

Next, description will be made of an example in which theelectrophoretic display device is applied to a display portion of acellular phone. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configurationof a cellular phone 90. As shown in FIG. 7, the cellular phone 90includes a plurality of operation buttons 91, an earpiece 92, amouthpiece 93, and a display device 64.

<Electronic Paper>

Next, description will be made of an example in which theelectrophoretic display device is applied to a display portion of anelectronic paper. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configurationof an electronic paper 110. The electronic paper 110 includes a body 111composed of a rewritable sheet having the same texture and flexibilityas paper, and a display unit including the display device 64.

These electronic apparatuses each include the electrophoretic displaydevice 1 without a display defect and thus have high reliability andhigh quality.

Besides the wristwatch shown in FIG. 6, the cellular phone shown in FIG.7, and the electronic paper shown in FIG. 8, examples of the electronicapparatus include an IC card including the display device provided in adisplay portion and a fingerprint detection sensor, an electronic book,a view finder-type or direct view-type video tape recorder, a carnavigation system, a pager, an electronic notebook, an electriccalculator, a word processor, a work station, a picture telephone, a POSterminal, and an apparatus with a touch panel. The display device may beapplied as a display portion for any one of these electronicapparatuses.

The technical field of the invention is not limited to theabove-described embodiments, and various changes of the embodiments maybe made within the gist of the invention.

In each of the embodiments, the dummy electrode (dummy pattern) isformed in a frame shape along the periphery of the segment electrodes.However, when the dummy electrode is formed in at least a portion of theperiphery of the segment electrodes, it may be possible to decreasestress concentration in the substrate ends and prevent crush of themicrocapsules disposed in the periphery of the pixel electrodes.

In addition, as a driving system for an electrophoretic display device,a segment type, an active matrix type, or a passive matrix type may beused.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments, a segment electrode groupincludes seven segment electrodes. However, the segment electrode groupis not limited to this, and the segment electrode group 2 c may include14 or 16 segment electrodes. In addition, the arrangement pattern of thesegment electrodes is not limited to the arrangement patterns of theembodiments.

1. An electrophoretic display device comprising: a pair of first andsecond substrates which are opposed to each other; microcapsulesenclosing a display material, the microcapsules being sandwiched betweenthe first and second substrates; a protective film sealing the first andsecond substrates; a first electrode provided between the firstsubstrate and the microcapsules; a second electrode provided between thesecond substrate and the microcapsules; and a spacer provided between anedge of the first substrate and the first electrode, wherein one of themicrocapsules is disposed between the first electrode and the secondelectrode and another of the microcapsules is disposed between thespacer and the second electrode.
 2. The electrophoretic display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the spacer is in therange of 50% to 150% of the thickness of the first electrode.
 3. Theelectrophoretic display device according to claim 1, wherein the widthof the spacer measured in the radial direction of the periphery is 2times or more as large as the diameter of the microcapsule.
 4. Theelectrophoretic display device according to claim 1, wherein the widthof the spacer is 3 mm or less.
 5. The electrophoretic display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a pixel electrode,the second electrode is a common electrode, the pixel electrode includesa plurality of segment electrodes arranged in a predetermined pattern,and the spacer is provided in the periphery of the outer segmentelectrodes among the plurality of segment electrodes.
 6. Theelectrophoretic display device according to claim 1, wherein the spaceris composed of the same material as that of the pixel electrode.
 7. Theelectrophoretic display device according to claim 1, wherein the firstsubstrate has a projecting portion projecting from the outer shape ofthe second substrate, a terminal portion is provided in the projectingportion, an insulating film is provided on the projecting portion excepton at least the terminal portion, and the spacer is composed of the samematerial as that of the insulating film.
 8. The electrophoretic displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing member is provided onthe surface of at least one of the first and second substrates, which isopposite to the facing surface, so that the reinforcing member planarlyoverlaps at least a portion of the spacer on the facing surface of thefirst substrate.
 9. The electrophoretic display device according toclaim 8, wherein the reinforcing member includes at least one of aconductive member composed of the same material as that of the pixelelectrode provided on the facing surface side of the first substrate anda protective member composed of the same material as that of theinsulating film.
 10. An electronic apparatus comprising theelectrophoretic display device according to claim 1.